The Maldonado Miracle
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Overview
Twelve-year-old Jose Maldonado used to dream of becoming a fine artist. But this son of a poor Mexican farmer now focuses on survival, not art. After Jose's mother died, his father left to work in the United States, leaving Jose on his own in Mexico. When it's time for father and son to reunite, things go terribly wrong. Jose's attempt to cross the border is harrowing, and his stay at a migrant worker camp turns into a nightmare, forcing him to flee for his life. Hiding out in a church seems a wise thing to do—until the blood dripping from his wounded shoulder lands on a statue of Christ. Now everyone thinks the statue itself is bleeding. Jose's accidental "miracle" kick-starts a media frenzy—and threatens the future of an entire town.
Theodore Taylor's riveting story of faith and desperation inspired the September 2003 Showtime movie The Maldonado Miracle, directed by Acadamy Award nominee Salma Hayek.
A twelve-year-old Mexican crosses the border illegally to join his father in California.
Synopsis
A story of a 12-year-old Mexican boy who crosses the border illegally to join his father in California—now a Showtime movie
Catholic Voice
Excellent!
Editorials
Catholic Voice
Excellent!Publishers Weekly
In The Maldonado Miracle by Theodore Taylor, author of The Cay, 12-year-old Jose Maldonado travels alone across the border from Mexico to the United States to reach his father. On the way, he hides out in a church, where blood from his wounded shoulder drips onto a statue of Jesus. When the town is transformed by this "miracle," Jose finds it difficult to tell the truth. First published in 1973, this story inspired a Showtime movie with the same title. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Jose has been through a lot in his twelve years—his mother's death, his father's departure for the United States to find work and having to live on his own in Mexico. This young man's survival skills are sharper than most, as readers will discover in this interesting story that inspired a Showtime original movie. The trouble begins when Jose must illegally cross the border to reach his father. Forced to stay in a migrant camp while awaiting his father's return from another location, Jose makes a friend but is forced to leave under the most extenuating circumstances (which, while not explicit, may be thematically too mature for some younger readers). An injury sustained while running away leads Jose to a mission where he seeks safe harbor for the night. But the blood that drips from his wound onto a statue of Christ is innocently misinterpreted as a miracle. Afraid of being discovered but unable to watch the craziness of the townspeople in the wake of this supposed miracle, Jose faces a tough decision—to confess that he caused the stain on the statue or to let the people live a lie? The book includes a good exploration and presentation of the subjects of independence, faith (in oneself and in a higher being) and innocence. Prior to becoming an author, Mr. Taylor was a prizefighter's manager, a merchant seaman and a movie publicist, among other things. He has authored numerous adventure books for young readers, including the bestseller, The Cay. 2003, Harcourt, Ages 8 to 12.— Cindy Carolan